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A “spell-binding” picture of the Milky Way has been introduced because the winner of the annual South Downs National Park astrophotography competitors.
The successful picture within the Starry Skyscapes class was a night-time picture of Cuckmere Haven and the Seven Sisters in East Sussex, entitled Galactic Bay, which was captured by Giles Embleton-Smith, from Eastbourne.
One of the judges, Steve Broadbent, from Hampshire Astronomical Group, mentioned: “This image evokes a wonderful atmosphere and shows just how spectacular the stars can be in the South Downs National Park on a clear night.”
Mr Embleton-Smith mentioned: “The shooting conditions at the Cuckmere Haven were ideal, with the Milky Way lining up perfectly over the old wooden breakwaters. I’m absolutely delighted and honoured to win.”
Runner-up within the skyscapes class was a “stunning” picture of Cissbury Ring – the biggest hill fort in Sussex, courting again greater than 5,000 years, which was taken by Carl Gough, from Littlehampton.
He additionally got here high within the Nature At Night class, together with his image of heathland surrounding Burton and Chingford ponds, close to Petworth in West Sussex.
Judge Elinor Newman, an astrophysicist who works on the occasions crew on the nationwide park, mentioned: “Lowland heath is one of the rarest habitats in the world and this really does capture the magic of it at night.
“Our heaths are actually some of the darkest spots in the national park and this gives a realistic example of what you might see on a clear night. Those beautiful heathers support an array of wildlife, including sand lizards and nightjars.”
Mr Gough mentioned: “The National Park offers so many opportunities for someone like me that has a passion for astronomy and nature.
“I’m able to view the Milky Way with my unaided eyes arching over heathland, reaching into land from out to sea, and towering over the world-famous chalky cliffs.
“With this particular photo it was the heather that drew me – nothing screams heathland like heather and nothing screams South Downs like heathland.”
Runner-up within the nature class was A Sky Full Of Stars, by Lorcan Taylor-Hood, taken at Warren Hill fishpond on the Eastbourne downland.
Taking the highest spot within the Magnificent Moon class was a shot of a harvest moon rising over Racton Ruins, close to Chichester, West Sussex, taken by Nathan Hill, from Emsworth, Hampshire.
Judge Dan Oakley, the nationwide park’s resident darkish skies skilled, mentioned: “This is an extraordinary image and so well-framed. It captures movement which is very difficult to do in astrophotography. It almost looks like a cannon ball being fired.”
Runner-up within the moon class was an image of the complete moon behind Beachy Head lighthouse, close to Eastbourne, which was additionally taken by Mr Embleton-Smith.
Four photos had been extremely recommended by the judges, together with There Was A Bear On Litlington Road, exhibiting a part of the Great Bear constellation mirrored in a flooded street, and Orion Over Black Pond at RSPB Pulborough Brooks, each taken by Steve Geliot.
The Power Above, depicting the Milky Way over the Hiorne Tower at Arundel, by Janette Britton, was additionally extremely recommended, along with Golden Moonrise, one other picture taken by Mr Embleton-Smith, which captured a golden moon behind Belle Tout lighthouse reflecting over the ocean at Seven Sisters.
– The successful will likely be shared and displayed through the South Downs National Park’s Dark Skies Festival, which runs from February 10 to 18.
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